Spiced Sweet Potato & Chicken Chili
IT’S FINALLY CHILI AND CORNBREAD SEASON! I get a little excited about all of the cozy, comfort meals that start making its way back into our family meal rotation at this time of year. Chili and cornbread is just the best “make ahead” meal to come home to after a hectic evening of soccer practices and dodging traffic. All of the work is done on the front end and all of the enjoyment feels so well deserved. It’s the time of year when our bodies are craving more complex carbs, more warming spices, and hot meals that warm us and ground us. This is the perfect meal to take with us into fall and through winter!
Ingredients:
Makes 8 servings
2 tablespoons butter
1 onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, diced
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoons coriander
a dash of chipotle powder
2 teaspoons salt
1 14 oz. can crushed tomatoes
1 rotisserie chicken, shredded
1 bell pepper, diced
2 sweet potatoes or 1 butternut squash, diced
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 can chickpeas (optional)
16-24 ounces chicken broth
½ cup half and half
Directions:
Heat a large dutch oven or pot over medium low heat. Melt the butter and add the onions and garlic. Stir every so often while they cook and soften. When they are nice and fragrant and starting to turn golden, add the paprika, cinnamon, cumin, coriander, chipotle, and salt. Stir to mix together. Add the crushed tomatoes, shredded chicken, bell pepper, sweet potato, maple syrup, and chickpeas (if using). Give it a good stir, then pour over the chicken broth. You want the broth to just cover all of the veggies and chicken. Put the lid on and simmer for about an hour, until the sweet potato is soft. Add the half and half and taste for seasoning. Adjust it to your tastes and ladle yourself a big bowl! You can also make this in an instant pot and cook on high pressure for 45 minutes. You can keep it at warm until it’s time to eat! We like ours piled high with grated cheddar, a dollop of greek yogurt, and a drizzle of hot sauce. I can’t wait to eat it again!
